They had become the text of his life.

This, he told himself, was his birthday.

He even accepted without a tremor a letter and telegram which the steward brought him.
"These were in the rack for you, sir," he said.

"I meant to bring them down last night but we had a busy start off." Philip took them up on deck to read.

He tore open the telegram first and permitted himself a little start when he saw the signature.